the organization wars - phase two

It's been a long process, but I think I'm finally getting ahead in the organization game. Not that you'd notice looking around my house (or my life), but I feel like I'm getting there - slowly but surely. I always find it interesting how the smallest changes can make it seem like you're more on top of things.


I've finally gotten around to doing a master shopping list on the computer that I can just print out and take to the store. If I happened to be really efficient I'd make one for each of the stores I go to, but there's a fine line between organized and compulsive and I'm trying not to fall in the chasm.


The wheels are in motion to make all of my bills payable on-line through my bank. For free. Enter the info once, pick a date and they automatically pay them for you. No stamps, no time spent, no late payments. Nada. I already pay a lot of stuff on-line, but to do it I have to go to several sites and put in a whole slew of passwords. This is the bill paying version of one-stop shopping.


Then there's always the food and eating situation. It's a mess. One carnivore, two won't eat red meat, one won't eat meat at all. I love to cook when I want to cook, but I've finally gotten to the point where it's a chore more than anything else. I sit down each week to plan menus and feel defeated before I start. The idea bank is closed. So this is what I've hit on - each week I'll try one new recipe. If we like it, it'll go in the rotation. In my household notebook, I'll start keeping all of our weekly menus so I can recycle stuff we like. If anything major gets cooked (casseroles, soup, marinated chicken), I'll automatically double the recipe and freeze half of it for a work day meal. We'll see how this goes, but it has promise. I sleep better knowing I have meals stashed in the freezer.


One of my very favorite magazines is Real Simple. You have to look past anything having to do with clothes (anyone else not in the market for a $400 casual cashmere hoodie?), but everything else is fabulous. It's practical, it's creative, it's soothing. The issue on the newstands now is an entire magazine full of lists of all sorts, and mine is already dogeared and tattered. It's a keeper if for no other reason than the recipe for super speedy lasagne made with frozen cheese ravioli. (This may not excite you, but it's been a manna from heaven for me - cheese ravioli and lasagne being two of the very few things that everyone in my family likes).


Some people use being organized as a control tool, I'm well aware. That's not my purpose. It's a time thing. I'd like to be as efficient as I can in as little time as possible. I'd like to start using my time off for things I want to do instead of things I have to do.


It's worth a shot.